Global debt level hits $233 trillion record high in Q3 of 2017

London Global debt levels soared to a record high of $233 trillion in the third quarter of 2017, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). It however noted that robust economic growth meant debt-to-GDP ratios were declining. The Washington DC-based financial industry body said while total debt had risen by $16 trillion in the third quarter compared to end-2016, debt ratio to global gross domestic product (GDP) had fallen for the fourth quarter in a row as the world economy expanded. It was referring to total debt incurred by the household, government, financial and non-financial corporate sectors. However, China which has accounted for the lion’s share of new debt in emerging markets, saw the pace of debt accumulation slow; debt rose by two percentage points last year to 294 per cent of GDP, compared to an average annual increase of 17 percentage points in the 2012-2016 period. The financial industry body warned however, of “heavy emerging market redemptions,” noting that over $1.5 trillion of bonds and syndicated loans would be maturing through end-2018. China, Russia, Korea and Brazil had heavy dollar-debt repayment schedule this year, it added. Agencies.

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Global debt level hits $233 trillion record high in Q3 of 2017